The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Bill) is Passed

I had been following the progress (and stagnation) of the Reproductive Health Bill since 2011, when I wrote part of my college senior thesis about the proposed law. My paper covered the main points of the bill - that it would provide access in the Philippines to maternal care, sex education and contraception, but it would not legalize abortion. I also discussed the controversy surrounding the issue. The majority of the population, along with President Aquino who endorsed the bill were long at odds with the Catholic Church, itself a potent political force within the country. That May, having completed my thesis and received my diploma, I went to the Philippines with my family. The three-week trip was a graduation gift from my parents, and I couldn't wait to explore the country again, this time with a good friend who joined us for the first ten days. While visiting Bohol and Quezon City, we noticed a certain trend: there are so many kids here, we thought. It wasn't an observation I can remember having on any other family vacation. There were small children literally everywhere. They approached us with wonder on the beach, they hung onto their parents at the malls - and they languished on the streets, begging for money. Our thoughts turned often to the RH bill.

I read an article from the Los Angeles Times this past summer that delved into the RH Bill and its implications, while also painting a portrait of a woman named Yolanda Naz. At the age of 36, “she had more children than teeth, common for poor women after repeated pregnancies and breast-feeding.” This mother of eight recounted sermons she had heard at Mass, when priests emphasized the sinfulness of taking birth control pills. But she explains, "What is more sinful is to have more children than I can afford to feed." The RH Bill is for women like Yolanda, who struggle every single day to feed their many sick children.

On December 19, 2012, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 enacted by the 15th Congress of the Philippines. The law guarantees Pilipino citizens access to various contraceptives and fertility control. The public will have access to sex education and methods of family planning. Women are guaranteed maternal care and will have more control over their own bodies. This is a major milestone in the Philippines, where the median age is 23.1 years and the birth rate is 24.98 births/1,000 population (compared to 37.1 years and 13.7/1,000 in the United States).

Human life is precious, and that is exactly why I am glad the bill was passed into law. We should value the lives of children by allowing them to have as much opportunity as possible. Too often they are forced to work instead of going to school; tey become ill or they face death because their parents can't afford the luxuries of education, clean shelter and food. Because of this new law, children in the Philippines - this is the hope, and it will take time - will have a better shot at living healthier and happier lives.

Singing, Dancing and Crying: Thoughts on Pilipino Television

One great amusement of going back to visit my folks’ place in New Jersey is their love of Pilipino television. Throughout the day, the television blares a medley of emotive music and phrases in Tagalog. The sounds coming from the TV act almost like an alarm clock; I know what time of day it is, based on which show's opening theme reverberates down the hall.

Growing up, I found Pilipino television to be absolutely maddening. “Teleserye” (or, Pilipino drama series) rotate every few months, though it can be hard to tell one from another. There is always an angel-faced “inosente” who never stops crying versus an angry “contrabida” who can be counted on to throw objects and dirty looks. The variety shows are even more bewildering. Scantily-clad dancers gyrate to repetitive pop songs and hand out prizes during game sequences to modestly-dressed winners hailing from faraway provinces, crying in gratitude to accept their winnings.

“These people are being exploited,” my sister said once, as we watched these shows together with critical eyes. And perhaps that is one reason why Pilipino television was and sometimes still is an outrage to me. There is an exploitive quality to these shows: human emotion and relationships are reduced to banal storylines. Glamour and status are reserved for roles played by actors with perfect pale skin and flawless figures. The true-life stories of the Pilipino working class are only told when contestants become champions in some childish game, and then these heroes-for-a-moment are whisked offstage and forgotten once the segment is over. It concerns me that this is what Pilipino culture looks like to the outside world: an over-the-top circus of nonstop singing, dancing and crying.

When I was younger, I often asked my family what value they saw in these programs. Allow me to paraphrase and translate my grandmother’s elegant reply. She said, “People who watch these have nothing to lose. I see hope when someone wins a prize.”

Now that I haven't been living at my parents' house for quite some time, these TV shows stir up more nostalgia than annoyance. Being home, in front of the TV with my parents is one of the rare times and places that I can listen to Tagalog all day, refreshing my memory and keeping the language alive. I can only imagine the joy and comfort the shows can give to Fil-Ams who had to leave their traditions, families and native tongues behind, like my parents. It’s a link to their home, and it’s become a link to home and roots for me as well.

The existing programs on Pilipino television may not be the perfect or even the best representation of the Pilipino spirit, but it’s the best we've got for now. And there are a handful of shows that convey true stories of Pilipinos of all backgrounds (“MMK” comes to mind). My hope is that the first generation Fil-Am community that I belong to will continue to be critical of Pilipino media. I hope that we'll strive to study the richness of our heritage and history beyond what Pilipino pop culture now offers, branching out to reinterpret what we have to create something even better, and more meaningful for future generations.

Sign UniPro's Petition Against Hate Crime in American Canyon, CA

I was called a "filthy Filipino" once.

It was in middle school. A classmate and I had gotten into a little tiff - I can't recall what it was about - but when she said those words, they stabbed me like a million little knives. I was shocked, then mad, and then disheartened, especially when, during dinner that evening, I told my mother about the incident and we were both unable to hold back tears.

A few days ago, Derek Valencia, a resident of American Canyon, CA, posted a photo of a hateful letter on Facebook. The letter, supposedly from the California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Barbering & Cosmetology, is addressed to fellow American Canyon resident Maria Aida Ignacio Brandes. At first, it discusses Ms. Brandes' alleged unlawful practice of cosmetology, but later it veers into a tirade against the "Filipino scum" in American Canyon:

"In addition, the American Canyon Filipino community as filthy as it is. [Illegible] unwanted as it is...... doesn't need to bring additional unwarranted/unlicensed practices which assists in bringing down the already downward spiraling property values in our area.

"We are attempting to have our community a law abiding one, without having yet another gang of Filipino scum such as yourself and married daughters who have attempted to assimilate into this once clean non-Filipino dominated area in American Canyon (Napa Junction) which includes those of your female offspring who have aligned themselves with CAUCASION husbands to assist in ensuring their half-breed children have "straight noses" in order to be accepted in non-Filipino society."

When I read  about this incident last night, I was just plain confused. I thought, "Is this real?" My astonishment was not regarding the authenticity of the letter as it is clearly not an official letter from the California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Barbering & Cosmetology, but I wondered again, as I did in middle school, why someone would go out of his or her way to target an entire community with such vile and hurtful words. I again pondered how I was at all "filthy."

Sadly, this letter is real in that it is full of real hate.

We must not let the Filipino American community of American Canyon stand alone. As Filipino Americans, Asian Americans and, simply, Americans, we must not be idle and complacent. We cannot allow this blatant act of racism to go unnoticed and unpunished. We must "work together, locally and nationally, to help bring justice to this issue."

Take a stand against hate.  Sign UniPro's petition against the recent hate crime in American Canyon, a small step against the deep-seated racism in this country that many Americans face every day.

Photo credit: The Huffington Post

501(c)3 Status: What Does It Mean?

UniPro recently had cause for celebration as we announced that, after a highly painstaking process, we achieved 501(c)3 status. Shared with the group at our 2nd Annual Staff Retreat, the announcement elicited an eruption of applause. And then there was me. Mindlessly cheering along. Whatever 501(c)3 meant, everyone else seemed to agree that it was a good thing. "I think it has to do with taxes," I wondered.

So I'm here to break it down for you, to tell you exactly why this truly is a momentous occasion for UniPro (or any nonprofit organization seeking legitimacy in the community), and to spare you the agony of reading the most boring Wikipedia entry of all time.

First of all, getting our 501(c)3 status is exciting because, well, we've been working on our application forever. A few dedicated staff members have slaved over tough questions, compiled financial records and attended 3 or 4-hour meetings to meet a strict deadline. The process was three years in the making, "so it's been a lot of patience and persistence that's finally paid off," said Jonelyn Planilla, Unipro's current treasurer.

501(c)3 status also means that we are a tax-exempt organization. Taking advantage of this huge benefit,  UniPro can now better serve its community, not having to worry about additional charges for necessary company expenses.

Similarly, UniPro can now incentivize donors with the ability to accept donations tax-free. For many organizations without 501(c)3 status, soliciting contributions can be a challenge. Generous supporters may feel at-risk when donating if they are unable to write off the gift on their taxes. Warren Buffet, here we come....

In the end, our newly obtained status gives UniPro legitimacy. Our young organization is recognized by the United States government as a serious non-profit organization (which isn't a small feat!). Congrats, UniPro! And thank you to all of the incredible staff members who made this goal a reality!

UniPro's Second Annual Retreat

On Saturday, November 10, UniPro staffers made the journey out to Staten Island for our 2nd annual retreat. Hosted at Manny Imperial's home, attendees participated in team building activities and workshops designed to both educate the group on policies and procedures and invite dialogue as the 2012/2013 season gets underway.

"The retreat creates an atmosphere in which new and old members alike can begin to create lasting relationships," explained UniPro Vice President, Iris Zalun. "It gets everyone's brilliance and passion in one place, resulting in some exciting ideas for the year to come."

The weekend began with a communal meal that set the tone for the rest of the retreat. The group then dove into its first workshop, "UniPro 101." This first workshop, presented by the recently elected executive board, described the history of the organization and outlined its core values, mission and vision. After a brief dessert break, participants were divided into four groups within which thematic ideas for UniPro's 2013 Summit were discussed. Each group then presented their ideas on how to unify the message of UniPro's flagship program.

Guest speaker Ryan Letada, founder of Next Day Better, kicked off Sunday's official activities. The third and final workshop of the retreat allowed for attendees to work in small groups to highlight possible shortcomings within UniPro. Letada had members write letters to themselves, considering the prompt, "if UniPro failed in the next year, tell yourself why you think that happened and explain how you may have contributed to its downfall." The critical thinking exercise "helped enlightened the staff of possible failures that lie ahead," said Keith Guirao, attendee and Director of Web Development at UniPro.

The weekend concluded with a group trip to Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, CT. Challenged by rope courses, zip lines and lots of climbing, the group made their way through the "aerial forest park," a true team-building experience!

If you are interested in becoming a member of the UniPro staff, please contact info@unipronow.org.